Abnormal Gait - MCCC

1 Abnormal gait Review Last Lecture Definition of gait ? What are the 2 phases of gait ? 5 parts of stance phase? 3 parts of swing phase? Abnormal gait An altered gait pattern reflecting any lower extremity defects or injuries joints muscles gait Deviations Normal gait requires adequate strength & ROM. of all participating joints, proprioception &. balance The body can adapt during injury or pathology by making certain biomechanical compensations (often subconsciously). Often patients show a very characteristic gait deviation that is assoc with either compensation or a consequence of a specific impairment Weak Dorsiflexors Compensations / Consequences - landing with flat foot instead of heel - equinnus gait - foot slap - drop foot - steppage gait Weak Quads Normally, during early stance as weight is being shifted onto the stance leg, the line of force falls behind the knee requiring quad contraction to prevent buckling of knee.

2 With quad weakness, patient leans forward at hip, causing COG to be shifted forward so line of force falls anterior to knee, forcing it into extension Hamstring Weakness What may happen: During the deceleration part of the swing phase, without the hamstrings to slow down the swinging forward of the lower leg, the knee will snap into extension Genu Recurvatum Caused by quadriceps paralysis, plantarflexion contracture, or hamstring weakness Results in excessive hyperextension of knee during stance phase Weak Hip Abductor 2 things happen: The contralateral side of the pelvis drops b/c the weak glut. med. is unable to stabilize the pelvis The trunk leans over the ipsilateral side during stance phase This is referred to as a Trendelenburg gait . Weak Gluteus Maximus Weak hip extensors You will see backward lean of the trunk during early stance phase Which shifts the line of gravity posterior to the hip reducing the demands of the hip extensor muscles Weak Gastroc/Soleus There is no heel rise at push off Resulting in a shortened step length on the unaffected side Noticeable on level ground, but most pronounced when walking up an incline Hip or Knee Flex Contracture Patient has flexed position of hip & knee during stance phase Will often see increased lumbar lordosis and reduced stride length Often referred to as a crouched gait .

3 Hip Hiking Caused by any impairment that limits the ability of the LE to functionally shorten Example: weak hip flexors So, the contralateral pelvis elevates during swing phase to provide for extra clearance for the advancing leg Hip Circumduction Compensation may be seen with any impairment of the LE that reduces the ability to reduce the length of advancing limb You will see the swing leg advance in a semi- circular arc, which creates extra clearance for the advancing leg Which muscles, then, need to be adequate enough to accomplish this? Vaulting Compensation may be seen with any impairment of the LE that reduces the ability to reduce the length of advancing limb Ex: inability to flex hip or knee Rising up on the toes of stance foot so that advancing limb can clear the floor Hemiplegic gait This gait pattern will vary depending on the severity and the amount of spasticity present Generally, with spasticity, there is an extension synergy in the LE (hip add, ext, IR & ankle PF, inv).

4 Usually no reciprocal arm swing Step length tends to be lengthened on involved side and shortened on uninvolved side Ataxic gait Due to cerebellar dysfunction The patients lack coordination, which leads to jerky, uneven movements Balance tends to be poor So, the patient walks with a _____ BOS. The patient usually has difficulty walking in a straight line & tends to stagger All movements appear exaggerated Parkinsonian gait LE & trunk tend to be flexed Elbows partially flexed with little or no arm swing Stride length greatly diminished Shuffling gait with flat feet & weight mostly forward on the toes gait tends to start slowly and increase in speed, with difficulty stopping Festinating gait : feet trying to keep up with forward leaning trunk Scissors gait Caused by hip adductor spasticity Most evident during swing phase BOS is _____. The trunk may lean over the stance leg as the swing leg attempts to swing past it Antalgic gait When any LE joint is painful, the tendency is to shorten the stance phase A shortened, often abducted, stance phase on the involved side results in a rapid and shortened step length of the uninvolved side Leg Length Discrepancy Unequal leg length Compensations include dropping the pelvis on the shortened side or leaning over the shorter limb If LLD is too great to be compensated with above, then you will see an equinnus gait If LLD still too great, may need to also flex knee of longer leg Recap of Lecture Weak dorsiflexors?

5 Vaulting? Hip hiking? Weak hip abductors? Hip circumduction? Ataxic gait ? Antalgic gait ? Looking Forward gait with Assistive Devices Questions??? Lippert, , (2006), Clinical Kinesiology and Anatomy 4th Ed., FA Davis: Philadelphia, PA. Mansfield, , Newmann, , (2009), Essentials of Kinesiology for the Physical Therapist Assistant, Mosby: St. Louis, MO.